ÿþ<HTML> <HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META NAME="Generator" CONTENT="Microsoft Word 97"> <META NAME="GENERATOR" CONTENT="Mozilla/4.04 [en] (Win95; I) [Netscape]"> <META NAME="Author" CONTENT="Inés Gutiérrez"> <TITLE>KOLEINU - Newsletter - B nei Israel Congregation - San José, Costa Rica</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY TEXT="#000000" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" LINK="#0000FF" VLINK="#551A8B" ALINK="#FF0000" BACKGROUND="paperING.jpg"> <FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica" SIZE=3> <P><IMG SRC="KOLEINU.gif" ALIGN=LEFT> <P><IMG SRC="OUR_VOICE.gif" ALIGN=RIGHT> <p>&nbsp; <p>&nbsp; <p>&nbsp; <CENTER> <H4> <A NAME="B nei Israel Congregation - San José, Costa"></A>B nei Israel Congregation - San José, Costa Rica</H4> <I>Liberal Synagogue affiliated with <U>World Union for Progressive Judaism </U><br> and with <U>Union of Jewish Congregations of Latin America and the Caribbean </U></I><br> Tel. 231-5243 / Fax 257-3308 <br> B nei Israel Online: <A HREF="http://www.bnei-israel.org/index.html"> http://www.bnei-israel.org/ </A> <br> B'nei Israel Congregation: <A HREF="mailto:congbnei@racsa.co.cr"> congbnei@racsa.co.cr<br></CENTER> <p>&nbsp; <CENTER> <H1> <A NAME="KOLEINU - Our Voice"></A> <A HREF="BOLpast.html#November">KOLEINU - Our Voice</A></H1></CENTER> <CENTER><H2>NOVEMBER 2002</H2></CENTER> <CENTER><H3>Heshvan - Kislev 5763</I></H3></CENTER> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <UL> <LI><B> <A NAME="Message_Rabbi"></A> <A HREF="#MESSAGE RABBI"> Message from the Rabbi</A> - <I>by Michael Holzman</I></LI> <LI> <A NAME="Jews_All_Over"></A> <A HREF="#JEWS ALL OVER"> Jews All Over The World</A> - <I>by Jessica Zimmerman</I></LI> <LI> <A NAME="Message_President"></A> <A HREF="#MESSAGE PRESIDENT"> Message from the President</A> - <I>by Eduardo Keibel</I></LI> <LI> <A NAME="Letter_Congregation"></A> <A HREF="#LETTER CONGREGATION"> Letter to the Congregation:</A></LI> <UL> <LI><B><FONT face=Arial,Helvetica> From Rabbi Roth and Lillian </FONT></B> </LI> </UL> <LI> <A NAME="Chanukah_Together"></A> <A HREF="#CHANUKAH TOGETHER"> Let's celebrate Chanukah Together !! </A> <UL> <LI>Shabbat Family Service - First Candle: Friday, November 29 <LI>Chanukah Party: Sunday, December 1st </UL> <LI> <A NAME="Sisterhood_Corner"></A> <A HREF="#SISTERHOOD CORNER"> Sisterhood Corner</A> - <I> by Flor Keibel</I></LI> <LI> <A NAME="Jennifer_Sossin"></A> <A HREF="#JENNIFER SOSSIN"> From the Jennifer Sossin School</A> - <I> Education Committee</I></LI> <LI> <A NAME="Ritual_Committee"></A> <A HREF="#RITUAL COMMITTEE"> From the Ritual Committee</A> <LI> <A NAME="The_Brothers"></A> <A HREF="#THE BROTHERS"> The Brothers</A> - <I> by Marvin Sossin</I></LI> <LI> <A NAME="News_UJCL"></A> <A HREF="#NEWS UJCL"> News from the UJCL</A> - <I> by Martha Lichtenstein </I></LI> <LI> <A NAME="Making_the_Case"></A> <A HREF="#MAKING THE CASE"> Making the Case for Israel </A> - <I>Canada-Israel Committee</I></LI> <LI> <A NAME="Ask_the_Rabbi"></A> <A HREF="#ASK THE RABBI"> Ask the Rabbi </A>- <I>Column by Michael Holzman</I></LI> <UL> <LI>Should a Reform community blow the shofar if Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat? </UL> <LI> <A NAME="Bereshit_Genesis"></A> <A HREF="#BERESHIT GENESIS"> Bereshit - Genesis</A> - <I> Sermon by Marvin Sossin</I></LI> <LI> <A NAME="Friday_Night"></A> <A HREF="#FRIDAY NIGHT"> One Friday Night </A>- <I>By Jason Marín</I></LI> <LI> <A NAME="Untimely_Death"></A> <A HREF="#UNTIMELY DEATH"> An Untimely Death - and a curious Reaction </A>- <I>By Marvin Sossin</I></LI> <LI> <A NAME="Chanukah_Recipe"></A> <A HREF="#CHANUKAH RECIPE"> A Chanukah Recipe</A> - <I>For the children</I></LI> <LI> <A NAME="Jewish_Humour"></A> <A HREF="#JEWISH HUMOUR"> Jewish Humour</A> <UL> <LI>Jewish as a Second Language: Caring for your new Jewish body </UL> <LI> <A NAME="Congratulations_Dates"></A> <A HREF="#CONGRATULATIONS DATES"> Congratulations - Thank You Note - Dates to Remember</A></LI> </UL> <P><B>Articles in Spanish without translation: (see: <A HREF="BOLnoviembre2002.html#KOLEINU.bmp"> NOVIEMBRE 2002)</A> <UL> <LI>Discussion about the Situation in Israel: Document developed by Jonathan Bilak <LI>Israel, World Leader in Volunteer Work <LI>Jewish Humour </UL> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <HR width="100%"> <H3> <A NAME="#MESSAGE RABBI"> <A HREF="#Message_Rabbi"> MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI </A></H3> <P ALIGN=JUSTIFY>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dear B nei Israel, <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As I prepare for my next visit to Costa Rica (November 22 - December 1), we are studying the Torah portions (parashiot) that tell the story of the life of Jacob. In parashah Toledot we read how  two peoples struggled in Rebekah s womb. We know these twins became Jacob and Esau, brothers who defined the term  sibling rivalry . As they both competed for their parents love, Jacob stole Esau s birthright and had to flee. We then read in parashah Vayetze how a lonely Jacob saw the vision of a ladder to heaven carrying angels up and down. We read how God promised to protect Jacob on his journey, and how he spent years working for his uncle, Laban. We read how Jacob s two wives competed for children, each hoping for Jacob s favor. Then we read in parashah Vayishlah that Jacob and his large family returned. We see him wrestle with the angel, receive God s blessing, and then face the brother he once fled. As Jacob and Esau approached each other, ready to fight, they fell upon one another and wept. And Jacob said to his brother,  To see your face is like seeing the face of God. As the parashah ends, we learn that Rachel died, and Leah became the mother to all of Jacob s children. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; These Parashiot tell the story of siblings competing and fighting, tricking and fleeing. Not only do Jacob and Esau struggle, but so do Rachel and Leah. In these parashiot we see two very different ways of resolving our differences. While Jacob had to flee, he also realized he needed to return. Jacob struggled with an angel, a mysterious being that some commentators say was his conscience. And Jacob emerged changed, broken and tired, but changed. He approached his brother, his enemy, and he reconciled, a truly holy experience. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But Rachel and Leah never reconciled. They competed for a husband, and for children. But they never resolved their differences. And then one day Rachel was gone and it was too late. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We all will have disputes with the people we love. In fact, with people we do not care about, we usually do not spend the energy disputing. It seems that the more we care about someone, the more often we will disagree, and the more often we will struggle. That is why siblings fight so much. That is why families, spouses, friends, and communities have so many disagreements. Because we care. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Our parashiot teach us also how to reconcile. How to make peace. We must not follow the example of Rachel and Leah, who let their struggle persist their whole lives. Instead, our job is to be like Jacob and Esau. We may need to leave for a minute, to catch our breath to cool off. We may need to struggle on our own, to look in the mirror and ask ourselves if we made a mistake. And we need to have the courage to return and to look the other person in the face. Because we love that person, because we love our community, even when we disagree, we return and we face our friends and family. Even if we are a bit broken and hurt, just like Jacob was hurt in his struggle with the angel, we still limp back to our community. And we look in the faces of the people about whom we care. And when we look in their eyes and resolve our differences, just like Jacob and Esau, that is when we see the face of God. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Enjoy the Parashiot and I ll see you in November. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; L Shalom, <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Michael Holzman <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <CENTER><IMG SRC="CORDON_CELESTE.bmp" border=0 width=480 height=12></CENTER> <H3> <A NAME="#JEWS ALL OVER"> <A HREF="#Jews_All_Over"> JEWS ALL OVER THE WORLD </A></H3> <P><FONT SIZE=3><I> By Jessica Zimmerman </I> <P ALIGN=JUSTIFY>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was 4:00 in the morning. The muddy side streets in the Indian city of Varanasi were pitch black. I stepped carefully, determined not to lose a shoe in the gripping mud. I stopped at the top of very steep stairs. I heard splashing water below and made out the faint outline of a small wooden boat. My heart pounded with excitement, as I stood overlooking the famous Ganges River. Carefully, slowly, I climbed into the boat. The next two hours, as the sun rose over India, proved to be among the most colorful, educational and amazing two hours of my life so far. The scene up and down the banks of the Ganges was hard to believe. Along this river, revered by Hindus as sacred water, I saw people bathe, pray, drink, sing, swim, meditate, chant, and cremate loved ones. I watched devout Hindus throw ashes, candles, icons of their beloved gods, and even a sacred cow, into their holy river. The scene in my memory is much like the one which the famous Israeli writer, A.B. Yehoshua, describes in <U>Open Heart</U>. He writes,  We descended many broken steps, making our way through the strong smells and colors of the pilgrims, Brahmins, and beggars... We embarked for the center of the river to observe the rites from the sacred water. All along the riverbank, we saw many more ghats teeming with pilgrims... with people and activity, densely strewn with temples... I sat riveted. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I, too, sat riveted. I stared at India, unable to fathom what the Jewish community in Bombay might be like. I would soon find out. I was headed there. Two years ago, I served as the student rabbi for India s only Progressive congregation -- the Jewish Religious Union, in Bombay. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On my first night in Bombay, the community sponsored a  meet the rabbi evening -- a time to shmooze and get to know each other a bit. They wanted to know all about my rabbinic experiences. I told them a little about school. And I told them that I had served a student pulpit in Juneau, Alaska. I looked around the circle at my new Indian friends, with Indian accents and Indian clothes - one of the most remote Jewish communities in the world - and noticed puzzled looks. Finally, one woman, wearing a sari and lots of gorgeous Indian jewelry, raised her hand and expressed the community s surprise. She asked incredulously,  There are Jews in Alaska?? I was utterly speechless. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Can you imagine how surprised they would be to find out that there are Jews in Costa Rica! In fact, many people all over the world are unaware of the thriving Jewish communities which exist on all the continents. Thanks to the tremendous efforts and support of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, liberal Jewish communities are linked together world-wide. I have always enjoyed visiting Jewish communities in my travels. It has been a particular joy for me to have had the opportunity to serve two World Union pulpits now. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It was a real privilege for me to be with you all for a month. Thank you so much for inviting me to share time with you and to get to know you. To all of my new friends in Costa Rica, <I>muchas gracias</I> for making Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur 5763 so beautiful and memorable for me. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As I mentioned on my first Shabbat in Costa Rica, I felt strongly about serving a Latin American Jewish community for these Yamim Noraim, my last before I become a rabbi. As many of you know, my mom was born in Ecuador. My grandparents ran from the Nazis, leaving Europe with only what they could carry. They were lucky to be able to get on boats going to South America. As they settled into new lives in a new culture, new language, new world, my grandparents became part of the Jewish community of Ecuador. More than fifty years after that, it is my honor to serve a Latin American Jewish community as the rabbi. I represent not only my grandparents, who are Survivors, but the Jewish People, who is very much alive today. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As we enter now into the season of lights, the time for Januka, we take out our janukiot and place them in the windows, fulfilling the commandment to publicize the miracle. We are reminded, as we watch the candles glow, of what God did for us <I>ba yamim ha hem bazman ha zeh</I> - at this time in seasons past. With the lighting of each candle, the glow of the menorah brightens. With each light, let us think of the Jewish communities around the world who are lighting their candles and celebrating with us. May the light of goodness and tolerance shine brightly this year. May the candles remind us of the miracle of the vibrancy of the Jewish people around the world. And may the light of the menorah bring us hope each year <I>bazman ha zeh</I> - in this season. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <I>Hag sameach!</I> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <CENTER><IMG SRC="CORDON_CELESTE.bmp" border=0 width=480 height=12></CENTER> <H3> <A NAME="#MESSAGE PRESIDENT"> <A HREF="#Message_President"> MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT </A></H3> <P ALIGN=JUSTIFY>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <I>I would like to share with you the following story:</I> <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Once upon a time, in a far away world very similar to Earth, there lived a people named Gubs. That world was divided geographically and politically, and had many more nations besides the Gubs, such as the Enilefs, the Keymons, the Sehors, the Wocs, the Tacs, the Gods, the Moho Sneipas, the Seshifs, and many others. However, the story we are interested in today is about the Gubs, which were just a few at the beginning and, as the years went by, multiplied and scattered all over that faraway world. They settled in many different places of the planet and adapted according to their needs. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thus, for example, the Aelf Gubs, which inhabited regions covered with dense forests, adapted so as to find their food in the flatlands, and their bodies became chubby and short. The Elteeb Gubs distinguished themselves for their strength, which made them look as if they were permanently inside military tanks, capable of bearing one hundred times their own weight. The Tans Gubs, which multiplied and formed regiments to protect themselves from their enemies, developing strategies to use such regiments in the search for food. The Eeb Gubs, very similar to the Tans Gubs, also developed a gravitational suspension system, which permitted them to travel very fast and observe the low lands from the highest places. The Redspi Gubs, very lazy, although having very long feet which made them capable of walking long distances, preferred to pass their time playing and swinging and making traps so as to catch their food. And such as these, there were many, many types of nations within the Gubs. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; One day, a small and curious Aelf Gub named Vidda, asked his father how important his family was, and he answered that his family had populated that world since the beginning of time and therefore was the most important Gubs family. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Feeling very proud, Vidda went to the meeting center where all the Gub children played, and told his playmates the truth his father had told him. He hadn t yet finished talking when an Elteeb named Muelsa pushed him and said:  You are very wrong. My family is more important than yours because WE have been here since the beginning of time. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Vidda, surprised and annoyed, jumped and ran until he found refuge beside a trap made by Rahsa, which of course was a Redspi Gub. Vidda told Rahsa what had happened and she answered:  Look, little Vidda, I will tell you my point of view, which may be rather limited because I prefer to stay in my refuge and silently observe while I swing, instead of walking and looking for trouble outside my territory. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Rahsa continued:  All the Gubs have been here for a very long time. I can t tell you which one came first, but through time, everyone of us has developed some unique qualities which have made us special in our own way. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Vidda interrupted her:  What special quality does that bully of Muelsa have? Just because he s bigger and stronger he feels he s better? <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "No, answered Rahsa.  That is precisely what I mean. Muelsa, because of his size and strength, even though he seems dull when he walks, is very good-natured and defends us from being crushed by the Enilefs or the Sehors. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Again Vidda interrupted her:  If it wasn t for my hability to jump and run, I would have been smashed by that Muelsa. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Rahsa responded:  Look, I will explain to you again what I think, and I assure you that it not necessarily is the only truth. Every Gub has a role in life; some may seem strong on the outside and on the inside are kind and sweet, some may seem unhappy and are happy, some may seem dull and are wise when needed, some may seem deaf and when you least expect it, have listened to everything around them. In other words, in one way or another, we all have our qualities, good ones and bad ones. We are all Gubs. I ll tell you what my grandmother Chelra once told me. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Exactly fifty two parcels ago, all the Gubs lived on a permanent dispute concerning who was the best in this, the best in that, who was the strongest, who was the handsomest, who worked more, who mas smarter, and they discussed and discussed all day long. Until that black day arrived, yes Vidda, mi grandma Chelra said she wouldn t want to relive that awful day never again. That day, the Moho Sneipas, which are a very destructive species, decided to make all the Gubs disappear from the face of the world. They threw some liquids called DDT and many Gubs began to die. It was then that the Gubs got organized to defend themselves, and so they looked for the qualities of each one that could benefit the lot of them. They found, for example, that the Tans Gubs worked incessantly, day and night, and made an almost infinite train which served to carry anything they needed. Also the Eeb Gubs, because of their ability for gravitational suspension, became the secret observers in charge of warning the others of the dangers surrounding them. We, Redspi Gubs, also did our part: with our ability to make traps, we closed the safe zones so the little ones could not go out and endanger themselves. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;  In short, grandma Chelra reckons that the Gubs finally escaped the Moho Sneipas threat. But it was not the actual escape what made us so great. What made us great was having learned to understand the need of living together, of helping one another in moments of confusion, of being different and knowing that each one has a role to play. What is important is to know that we can obtain something positive from each one in benefit of the whole group. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Vidda said,  I ll talk with Papa and remind him of what your grandma Chelra told you. And thank you, thank you very much. Vidda said goodbye with a thankful gesture and went on his way, filled with satisfaction. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <I>I ask you now, my dear friends: Don t you feel that somehow you already knew this story? <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thanks, <BR><BR> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Eduardo Keibel </I> <P> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <CENTER><IMG SRC="CORDON_CELESTE.bmp" border=0 width=480 height=12></CENTER> <H3> <A NAME="#LETTER CONGREGATION"> <A HREF="#Letter_Congregation"> LETTER TO THE CONGREGATION:</A><H3> <FONT SIZE=3> <P ALIGN=JUSTIFY>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dear Friends, <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This letter is long overdue. We have thought of writing on so many occasions, especially when the B nei Israel Bulletin arrives, but it seems that something more demanding, time wise, always takes precedent. These years of retirement have convinced me that I find myself so preoccupied that there is never enough time to do that which must be done. Because of these ongoing and never ending concerns we have not written this letter at an earlier time. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There is hardly ever a time when the B.I Bulletin arrives that we do not devour it before reading any other mail. We are convinced that the KOLEINU is a gem that we find far more interesting, informative and presentable than any other temple bulletin that we receive. B nei Israel Congregation of San Jose, Costa Rica would certainly warrant our vote for "The Best". When the October 2002, Tishrei - Cheshvan 5763 issue arrived we were determined that this letter must at long last be written. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The ADDRESS TO AMERICANS ABROAD by Marvin Sossin is a gem. Only Marvin has the ability to cram so much important information into such limited time and space. Clear, concise and on the mark captured in telling prose. Only Marvin Sossin. (Note to M.S. Must I get written permission from you to copy and distribute this article ?). So, too, Jody Bonilla's article which could apply to any and every congregation, whether in Costa Rica or the USA; The WUPJ reports, the excruciatingly important reprint of Jonathan Sacks article, THE NEW ANTI-SEMITISM ; A SAD DAY FOR MONTREAL by Sara Ahronheim and Alan M. Dershowitz is always interesting and very readable even if at times quite provocative. In essence, KOLEINU is not parochial or provincial, but embodies news of world wide scope, covering the gamut of Jewish concerns that must urgently be brought to our attention. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The only disappointment I have is that I cannot find the President's message which Eduardo Keibel writes every month. It is listed in the contents on the front page of both languages but it seems to me that it appears only in the Spanish section. I will have to find help in reading the message because I am certain that it will be worthwhile. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Yes !! KOLEINU IS quite a Bulletin !! <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We send best wishes to all the family of B nei Israel and especially so to all those whom we came to know and love during the years we were fortunate to spend with all of you. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; With fond memories and best wishes for Peace in Israel and all the world. <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lillian and Rabbi Harry A. Roth. <BR> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <I>October 30, 2002 <BR> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Los Angeles, CA</I> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <P><U>NOTE FROM THE EDITOR</U>: <P><I>In the October issue of KOLEINU, the President's Letter was not translated <br> into English because it was turned in a little bit too late, <br> which left me with no time to traslate it. I am very sorry.<BR> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- Inés Baum </I> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <CENTER><IMG SRC="CORDON_CELESTE.bmp" border=0 width=480 height=12></CENTER> <H3> <A NAME="#CHANUKAH TOGETHER"> <A HREF="#Chanukah_Together"> LET S CELEBRATE CHANUKAH TOGETHER! </A></H3> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <CENTER> <H1><FONT COLOR=RED> CHANUKAH IS HERE! </FONT></H1> <H3><FONT COLOR=BLUE> First candle: Friday, November 29 </FONT></H3> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <H3><I><FONT COLOR=DARKGREEN> To bring the lights of Chanukah into the home <BR> is like bringing God's light from the Temple into our house. </FONT></I></H3> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <P>Let s all kindle the lights of Chanukah together and celebrate <BR> with members and friends of B nei Israel, our extended family. <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <P><IMG SRC="DREIDELS.gif" WIDTH=344 HEIGHT=56> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <P> RABBI MICHAEL HOLZMAN invites you to celebrate Chanukah with a... <H2><FONT COLOR=RED> SHABBAT FAMILY SERVICE </H2> <H2> 1st CHANUKAH CANDLE </FONT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR=BLUE> <U>Date</U>: Friday, November 29 <BR> <U>Time</U>: 8:00 p.m. <BR> <U>Place</U>: at the synagogue </FONT></H3> <P> Be sure to bring your Channukiah to the synagogue, <BR> and let s all light together the 1st Chanukah candles. <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <P><IMG SRC="DREIDELS.gif" WIDTH=344 HEIGHT=56> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <P> The MIXED MARRIAGES GROUP invites you to a <H2><FONT COLOR=RED> CHANUKAH PARTY </FONT></H2> <H4><FONT COLOR=BLUE> <U>Date</U>: Sunday, December 1ST <BR> <U>Time</U>: 2 p.m. <BR> <U>Place</U>: Ziegler s home, in Heredia </FONT></H4> <UL> <LI> Cook your latkes and participate in our <U> GREAT LATKE CONTEST </U>. <LI> Bring your Chanukiyah, so we can light together the candles for the third day of Chanukah. <LI> Bring something to share, sweet or salty, or some goodies for the children. </UL> <P> <U> To confirm your presence, please call: </U><BR> Sonia Ziegler, tel. 267-6509 <BR> Jenny Rodríguez, tel. 231-1365 <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <P><IMG SRC="DREIDELS.gif" WIDTH=344 HEIGHT=56> </CENTER> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <CENTER><IMG SRC="CORDON_CELESTE.bmp" border=0 width=480 height=12></CENTER> <H3> <A NAME="#SISTERHOOD CORNER"> <A HREF="#Sisterhood_Corner"> SISTERHOOD CORNER</A></H3> <P ALIGN=JUSTIFY>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dear Ladies: <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I would like to invite you to our next meeting on Tuesday, November 26, at 4:30 p.m., at my house. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It s important that we keep in touch, that we share our ideas, our thoughts and feelings, so we can complement each other. Each one of us makes a difference in the community. It is in our ideas and projects where we feel productive. But right now I would like to explore more in the sharing of our life experiences and how this will unite us even more as a family. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Those who can not attend on weekdays, be sure to join me at home on Saturday, November 30, at 4:30 p.m. <BR><BR> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Flor C. de Keibel <BR> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; President Damas Voluntarias Group <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <CENTER><IMG SRC="CORDON_CELESTE.bmp" border=0 width=480 height=12></CENTER> <H3> <A NAME="#JENNIFER SOSSIN"> <A HREF="#Jennifer_Sossin"> FROM THE JENNIFER SOSSIN SCHOOL</A></H3> <FONT COLOR=RED> <H4><U>SUBJECT</U>: ADULT EDUCATION </H4> </FONT> <P ALIGN=JUSTIFY>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dear Members, <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In order to reactivate our Adult Education Program for members of B'nei Israel, we are happy to announce the following classes: <UL> <LI>Siddur Literacy (Basic Hebrew Reading Skills) <LI>Beginning Hebrew Conversation <LI>Introduction to the Study of Talmud <LI>Torah Study Group <LI>Jewish Book Club <LI>Chavara Study Groups of diverse subjects <LI>Jewish Cooking <LI>Israeli Folk Dancing </UL> <P ALIGN=JUSTIFY>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We will be able to open each group, or any others in which you may be interested, once we have 5 people per class. Once the group is formed, time and date will be decided upon by the participants (afternoon, evening, weekends). <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Please send an e-mail or call one of the following members of the Education Committee to talk about your interests. <UL> <LI>Jody Steiger:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="mailto:limonal@racsa.co.cr"> limonal@racsa.co.cr - tel. 289-9321 </A> <LI>Pilar Elkin:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="mailto:melkin@racsa.co.cr"> melkin@racsa.co.cr - tel. 232-0856 </A> <LI>Hilda ten Brink:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="mailto:lamejor@racsa.co.cr"> lamejor@racsa.co.cr - tel. 228-9529 </A> <LI>Gonzalo Vega:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="mailto:gvega@ultrapark.com"> gvega@ultrapark.com - tel. 386-1666 </A></UL> <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It is our hope that in so doing, we will be enriching our lives and enjoying our Jewish identity with the richness of our heritage. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; B shalom, <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Education Committee <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <CENTER>*******************</CENTER> <FONT COLOR=RED> <H4><U>SUBJECT</U>: SNACKS</H4> </FONT> <P ALIGN=JUSTIFY>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Each time your child attends lessons at the Jennifer Sossin School, he/she enjoys a snack with all the children and professors, from all the different groups, that have classes that day. To know the date when your child has to bring something, please look at the following calendar: <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <TABLE ALIGN=CENTER BORDER= 2 CELLPADDING= 30 WIDTH=80%> <TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><B> November 6 </TD><TD ALIGN=CENTER><B> Daniel Zango, Iaaron Bar-tal, Ariel Bar-tal </TD></TR> <TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><B> November 12 </TD><TD ALIGN=CENTER><B> Daniel de Matheu, David de Matheu, Gabriela Mizrachi </TD></TR> <TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><B> November 13 </TD><TD ALIGN=CENTER><B> Ismael Baum, Pablo Bien, Sara Brenes </TD></TR> <TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><B> November 19 </TD><TD ALIGN=CENTER><B> Joel Zango, Daniela Mizrachi, Miriam Pérez </TD></TR> <TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><B> November 20 </TD><TD ALIGN=CENTER><B> André de Matheu, Sofía Elkin, José Espinoza </TD></TR> <TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><B> November 26 </TD><TD ALIGN=CENTER><B> Aleco Feingold, Hanna Zango, Hannah Yechivi </TD></TR> <TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><B> November 27 </TD><TD ALIGN=CENTER><B> Daniel Zango, Ricardo Keibel, Rebeca Koss </TD></TR> <TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><B> December 3 </TD><TD ALIGN=CENTER><B> Alonso Pérez, Micaela Rodríguez, Isadora Friedlander </TD></TR> <TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><B> December 4 </TD><TD ALIGN=CENTER><B> Adrián Lev, David Rimon, Matías Rodríguez </TD></TR> <TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><B> December 10 </TD><TD ALIGN=CENTER><B> Johanna Akerman, Gabriel Pérez, Daniel Marín </TD></TR> <TR><TD ALIGN=CENTER><B> December 11 </TD><TD ALIGN=CENTER><B> Michael Tarcica, Arick Dickerman, Daniel Zango </TD></TR> <TABLE> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <P ALIGN=JUSTIFY>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The first child must bring juice, the second something sweet, and the third one, a salty snack. Please send enough for 20-25 people approximately. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thanks, <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Education Committee <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <CENTER><IMG SRC="CORDON_CELESTE.bmp" border=0 width=480 height=12></CENTER> <H3> <A NAME="#RITUAL COMMITTEE"> <A HREF="#Ritual_Committee"> FROM THE RITUAL COMMITTEE</A></H3> <FONT COLOR=RED> <H4><U>SUBJECT</U>: FIRST SHABBAT SERVICE OF EACH MONTH </H4> </FONT> <P ALIGN=JUSTIFY>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dear Members, <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Please remember that the first Friday of each month, the evening Services begin at 6:30 p.m. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Ritual Committee has made an effort to maintain these early Family Services once a month to guarantee that families with small children will be able to participate. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We hope to fill the synagogue the first Friday nights with the voices of young and old alike! Please support our efforts and come and join in our Shabbat celebration. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thanks, <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ritual Committee <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <CENTER><IMG SRC="CORDON_CELESTE.bmp" border=0 width=480 height=12></CENTER> <H3> <A NAME="#THE BROTHERS"> <A HREF="#The_Brothers"> THE BROTHERS </A></H3> <P><I><FONT SIZE=3> By Marvin Sossin </I> <P ALIGN=JUSTIFY>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Several members of our community have been adversely affected by the closure of a financial enterprise commonly known as "The Brothers". Their investments have been frozen indefinitely and the substantial income stream they were receiving has suddenly ceased. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; No one knows at this time if they will get their money back, or if "The Brothers" are permanently out of business. They had been operating for over 25 years in Costa Rica and had a reputation for honorably living up to their commitments. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Nevertheless people are hurting. Several thousand, especially foreign residents and recent immigrants living here depend on that money. I know of cases where friends are having to make substantial changes in their lifestyles as a result; downsizing as it were. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There has also been concern about the ability of these people to fulfill their pledges to the Rabbi fund. We are in contract negotiations with Michael Holzman, who we hope trust will be starting in July 2003, to be our Permanent Rabbi. A recent assembly of the congregation, confirmed the desire of the great majority to approve his being our spiritual leader. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We are not a large community. By any standards we are relatively small; 72 families, about 300 people. A permanent Rabbi is the fulfillment of a dream, held by many of us, that our numbers could grow substantially if we had the right person in the pulpit. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Now what? <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We do it! Somehow, we must find and maintain a Rabbi in B nei Israel. We need it and cannot afford not to go forward. Neither can we afford, in basic arithmetic, to pay the price, especially now in light of some of our generous supporters' current financial situation. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I think that a Rabbi now is as important as food on the table. It is as important to fill your heart and soul as it is to fill your stomach. We have invested so much of ourselves to help our community grow. We can t let down now. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So, keep the faith. We demonstrate our courage in the face of adversity, not on the crest of Mazel. Do what you can - but all that is possible. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We need your help. Now, more than ever. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Our spiritual future is at stake here. <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <CENTER><IMG SRC="CORDON_CELESTE.bmp" border=0 width=480 height=12></CENTER> <H3> <A NAME="#NEWS UJCL"> <A HREF="#News_UJCL"> NEWS FROM THE UJCL </A></H3> <I>Extract - Newsletter #8</I> <P ALIGN=JUSTIFY>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dear Friends: <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Once again, it is time to share with you news from our network of communities. We hope it will bring you closer to the UJCL as YOU are an important part of it, and that it will, perhaps, be a deciding factor to join us, if your community has not yet done so. <H3><U> SEMI-ANNUAL BOARD MEETING </U></H3> <P ALIGN=JUSTIFY>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <FONT COLOR=RED>Q:</FONT> If you bring together fifteen very committed people, and add an excellent workshop leader who will keep a high level of interest throughout a whole day, what do you have? <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <FONT COLOR=RED>A:</FONT> The UJCL Board "trying harder" to be more effective in reaching out to all the small Jewish communities in the Caribbean and Central America. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On Oct. 11-14 representatives from Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Aruba, Bahamas, Panama, all of them Board members in various capacities, got together in Puerto Rico to hear reports from the different communities, discuss the upcoming Encounter in Panamá as well as the parallel Youth Encounter, and participate in a workshop. This was the highlight of the reunion, because it gave us a new perspective on our future as an organization. That was precisely the theme of the workshop: <I>Building Our Future</I>, and its coordinator was Dr. Mario Schulman, representing the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), Latin American Office. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Working together in groups the participants were able to formulate their mission with deeper insight and an awareness of the obstacles ahead of them: <UL> <LI>To create opportunities for Jewish communities, widely dispersed, to link together for continuity and the enrichment of their Jewish heritage. </UL> <P ALIGN=JUSTIFY>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Also formulated was our vision: <UL> <LI>To become developers and coordinators of community services that will enhance the achievement of our mission. </UL> <P ALIGN=JUSTIFY>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The participants developed different strategies to bridge the gap between mission and vision, and devised concrete plans of action to achieve their goals. A priority all agreed upon: the development of services for the youth, encouraging encounters along the year, and an established camp for them. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Encouraged by the results, the Board will do its utmost to hold more Encounters of this type throughout the year, at different member communities. <H5><CENTER><FONT COLOR=BLUE> TO READ THE REPORT OF EACH COMMUNITY <BR> PLEASE VISIT THE UJCL WEBSITE: <BR> <A HREF="http://www.ujcl.org"> www.ujcl.org </A></FONT></CENTER></H5> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <I>Martha E. Lichtenstein <BR> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Aruba <BR> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;October 2002 - Heshvan 5763</I> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <CENTER><IMG SRC="CORDON_CELESTE.bmp" border=0 width=480 height=12></CENTER> <H3> <A NAME="#MAKING THE CASE"> <A HREF="#Making_the_Case"> MAKING THE CASE FOR ISRAEL </A></H3> <p><FONT SIZE=3><I> Canada-Israel Committee </I> <P ALIGN=JUSTIFY>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We ve all had the experience of reading about the latest terrorist attack in Israel and shaking our heads in dismay, when a friend glances over our shoulder and asks,  Don t Palestinias have the right to fight for a homeland just like the Israelis did? How do we respond? <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It s a difficult question. Often we fumble for the proper answer or think of a reply several hours later. Or we get stuck in a debate, wishing someone was beside us supporting our views. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The following questions and answers provide a starting point to help you make the case for Israel during these challenging times. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <B><FONT COLOR=RED> Q. Don t the Palestinians have a right to their own homeland, just like Israel? <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A. </FONT></B> The Palestinian s legitimate aspirations have been denied to them by their own leadership. Yasser Arafat walked away from the final stages of negotiating statehood when he abandoned the peace process at Camp David and Taba, leaving Israel s concessions and offers unanswered. Since then, the Palestinian people have slipped farther from their nationalist dream, with a leadership that has made terrorism its preferred form of diplomacy. The Palestinian people will achieve their legitimate aspirations only when their leadership is willing to accept that those aspirations cannot come at the expense of Israel s right to security and stability. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <B><FONT COLOR=RED> Q. Wouldn t the violence end immediately if Israel would just unilaterally pull out of the West Bank and Gaza Strip? <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A. </FONT></B> The Jerusalem Post recently observed that  If the Palestinians put down their weapons today, there would be no more violence; if Israel put down their weapons today, there would be no more Israel. Palestinian terrorist groups work from a different set of rules, viewing Israeli concessions as signs of weakness. Previous experience suggests no reason to believe that unilateral Israeli concessions will end Palestinian violence. Moreover, under UN Security Council Resolution 242, any Israeli withdrawal from disputed territories must take place only in the context of full peace and security guarantees. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <B><FONT COLOR=RED> Q. Aren t the settlements the main obstacle to peace in the Middle East? <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A. </FONT></B> There has been a Jewish presence in the territories since Biblical times; indeed, this presence was only interrupted between 1948 and 1967 when Jews were forbidden to reside in the West Bank and Eastern Jerusalem (occupied by Jordan). The present violence is not a response to settlements. Rather, settlements are but one excuse advanced by the Palestinians to avoid declaring a ceasefire and returning to the negotiating table. Labeling settlements as  illegal and portraying settlers as  militants is part of an ongoing campaign to justify terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <B><FONT COLOR=RED> Q. Isn t Israel violating UN resolutions by occupying Palestinian land? <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A. </FONT></B> No. Under UN Resolution 242, it is fully legitimate for Israel to remain in control of the West Bank and Gaza pending a negotiated settlement. Moreover, the West Bank and Gaza remain unallocated, disputed areas. The UN resolutions regarding Israeli withdrawal clearly provide Israel the  right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats. Israel was able to achieve a peaceful resolution with Egypt resulting in an exchange of land for the recognition of secure borders. Israel has clearly and repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to make the same concessions with other Arab partners, including the Palestinians. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <B><FONT COLOR=RED> Q. If Israel allows for a Jewish  Law of Return, why doesn t it allow for a Palestinian  Right of Return ? <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A. </FONT></B> The Palestinian  refugee problem would not exist if it weren t for the Arabs rejection of the 1947 Partition Plan and their decision to go to war in 1948 against the newly established Jewish state. After the War of Independence (1948), an equal number of Jewish refugees (approximately 700,000) were forced to leave their homes in the Arab world and seek out a new homeland in Israel. Israel s neighbors have not been open to the absorption of refugees (with only Jordan allowing Palestinians to become citizens) resulting in the Palestinian refugee crisis. For Israel to be expected to concede territory for the creation of a Palestinian state AND to open its borders to allow for a Palestinian  right of return to Israel, would result in the end of Israel s existence as a democratic Jewish state. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <B><FONT COLOR=RED> Q. How come so many more Palestinians, specifically children, have died in the  Al Aqsa Intifada than Israelis? <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A. </FONT></B> In fact, more young Israeli children have been killed as a proportion of total fatalities and more than three times as many Israeli female noncombatants killed than Palestinian female noncombatants. Palestinian terrorists strategically and maliciously target environments to maximize the number of Israeli youth being killed, choosing discos, pool halls, coffee shops, and universities. By contrast, Israel does everything in its power to avoid civilian casualties, and expresses deep sorrow and regret when civilians are accidentally wounded or killed in the pursuit of Palestinian terrorists. Tragically, Palestinian children are socialized in an environment of hatred and violence through schoolbooks, television programming, youth groups, and camps. Not only are these children recruited as warriors in this campaign of terror against Israel, they are physically placed in front of combatants as  human shields. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <B><FONT COLOR=RED> Q. Don t the Palestinian people have a right to  resist occupation ? <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A. </FONT></B> Under Oslo, the Palestinian leadership committed itself to pursue negotiations and prevent violence. Rather than continue on a path of diplomacy, the Palestinian leadership rejected negotiations in favour of support for militant Islamic groups in their campaign to destroy Israel. As a result, Israel has been the victim of approximately 14,000 terrorist attacks, resulting in 568 deaths, since the uprising began in September 2000. Palestinians do have legitimate aspirations but they do not have the right to inflict a campaign of terror on the Israeli people or threaten Israel s existence in order to achieve those objectives. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <B><FONT COLOR=RED> Q. Why do Jews label all criticism against Israel as anti-Semitic? <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A. </FONT></B> Israel is open to legitimate criticism just like any other democracy would be. In fact, the editorial pages of Israel newspapers are filled with more self-criticism than we typically see in Canada. However, couched in a new global wave of anti-Israel/anti-Zionist sentiment since the beginning of the  Al Aqsa Intifada and the UN Conference Against Racism in Durban in 2001, criticism of Israel has crossed the line into anti-Semitism with the emergence of attacks on the Jewish state and the Jewish people. When criticism of Israeli policy degenerates into obsessive bashing, the boycotting of academics simply because they are Israeli, the desecration of Jewish cemeteries, and the firebombing of synagogues in the Diaspora, then those criticisms become anti-Semitic and must be recognized as such and condemned by all people of goodwill. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <I>We hope these answers will be helpful in your discussions about the current situation in Israel. If you see a media report you want to respond to, if you d like to contact your MP to voice your concerns, or if you simply want more information about the conflict in the Middle East, please contact us. Organizations like the Canada-Israel Committee are here to support your efforts. </I> <UL> <LI>Website: <A HREF="http://www.ciweb.ca"> www.ciweb.ca </A> <LI>E-mail: <A HREF="mailto:cic@cicweb.ca"> cic@cicweb.ca </A> </UL> <H2><FONT COLOR=RED><CENTER><I>May it be a year of peace for all of Israel </I></CENTER></FONT></H2> <CENTER><IMG SRC="CORDON_CELESTE.bmp" border=0 width=480 height=12></CENTER> <H3> <A NAME="#ASK THE RABBI"> <A HREF="#Ask_the_Rabbi"> ASK THE RABBI </A></H3> <I>Column by Michael Holzman</I> <P><FONT COLOR=RED> Q: SHOULD A REFORM COMMUNITY BLOW THE SHOFAR IF ROSH HASHANAH FALLS ON SHABBAT? </FONT> <P ALIGN=JUSTIFY>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <FONT COLOR=RED>A:</FONT> This question raises a variety of very important issues. According to <I>halakhah</I>, traditional Jewish Law, a community does not blow the shofar if Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat. The issue here is the prohibition against carrying on Shabbat. Since we are not allowed to carry anything on Shabbat, then we cannot carry the shofar to the shul and thus we cannot sound the shofar. You might ask, why not leave it at the synagogue before Shabbat begins, and therefore we will not have to carry it? Good question. This raises a separate issue, a principle called <I>marit ayin</I> (how it appears to the eye) which teaches that even if something is allowed, but it might appear to the eye to be prohibited, we do not do this thing. This is so that nobody who sees us thinks we violated <I>halakhah</I>, or so that they do not become confused and suddenly think that traditional <I>halakhah</I> permits what we did. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But that is all traditional <I>halakhah</I>. We progressive Jews observe <I>halakhah</I> differently. We know that every individual has a choice in what they observe, no matter how orthodox or liberal. Instead of believing that we are  supposed to follow all the <I>halakhah</I>, and then feeling guilty when we do not, we turn things around. We discuss, struggle, and learn the <I>halakhah</I>, and then we decide what <I>mitzvot</I> (commandments) will be meaningful to us. We find the shofar meaningful on Rosh Hashanah. Its voice calls us to repentance, to introspection, to <I>tshuvah</I> (change). It elevates our soul and challenges our spirit. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But, you might ask, how can we observe a <I>mitzvah</I> like sounding the shofar and not follow the prohibition against blowing it on Shabbat? I respond with a question: Does following one <I>mitzvah</I> obligate us to follow all <I>mitzvot</I>? Judaism is not a light switch we turn on or off. So if we chose to observe the <I>mitzvah</I> of sounding the Shofar, that does not obligate us to all the laws against carrying on Shabbat or the laws of <I>marit ayin</I>. Most of us already  violate those <I>halakhot</I> anyway because we carry our purses, our keys, our wallets. If we enjoy praying at services, does that mean the only way we can come is to walk? Of course not. We choose which <I>mitzvot</I> to observe, and we choose how to observe them. These choices are based in our study, our learning, and our struggle together. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As for <I>marit ayin</I>. Should we worry that someone might hear us sound the Shofar on Shabbat and they might become confused. Yes, we should be concerned. So we have a responsibility to explain progressive, liberal Reform Judaism, and tell other Jews that we sound the Shofar because our community finds meaning in this particular ritual. That we observe Judaism in a way that fits honestly with their modern life. We need to tell them that we practice what we believe, not what we think <I>halakhah</I> tells us to believe. Our children will look at us and ask us why we practice what we do. If we chose it, then we can answer honestly, and they will know how to make their own Jewish choices in the future. This is how we build a healthy, growing, and living Judaism for the future. <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <H2><CENTER><FONT COLOR=RED> If you have any questions for Michael, <BR> please e-mail him directly at: <BR> <A HREF="mailto:MGHolzman@aol.com"> MGHolzman@aol.com </A> <BR> He would be happy to answer your questions! </FONT></CENTER></H2> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <CENTER><IMG SRC="CORDON_CELESTE.bmp" border=0 width=480 height=12></CENTER> <H3> <A NAME="#BERESHIT GENESIS"> <A HREF="#Bereshit_Genesis"> BERESHIT - GENESIS </A></H3> <P><FONT SIZE=3><I> Sermon by Marvin Sossin <br> October 4, 2002 </I> <P ALIGN=JUSTIFY>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We begin at the beginning. The Parashat for this week is Bereshit, or Genesis (in English). It means  origin . So we are not talking here of the beginning of a story, or a book, or the five books (of Moses). We are talking here of the origin of the world; the day (or the eternal night that preceded the first day) of Creation. The thought is awesome! It is impossible to imagine such a moment. It's beyond the limits of the most vivid imagination. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In six days God created everything: light, water, plants, the earth, animals - and finally man. Or at first he made a man and there followed the rest of creation. It depends on whether you are reading chapter I or chapter II of Bereshit because there are two versions. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Both versions coincide on the seventh day, the day of rest; which we acknowledge of this day, as the most important time of Jewish life, the Sabbath. The seventh day. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Those of you who are number freaks, (and in fact there are students of Judaism, especially the Cabala which is filled with the importance of numbers as the secrets of truth in Jewish mysticism) will be interested to note that the number seven is considered the most important number in the Torah. It is certainly the most repeated; more than 500 times. Some students point to the significance of the sun, the moon and 5 planets. Seven in all. Others note that the lunar month is divided by four quarters of seven days each. The Pesach festival is governed by seven. There are 7 weeks between Pesach and Shavout. There is even a theory that when God spoke,  VEEMAR ELOHIM ( and God said ) when taken at their numerical value, amount to 343, which is 7x7x7. And, of course, all this gematria, which is the Jewish science of numbers, has no relevance whatever that my office phone number is 207-7777 and that it is sheer coincidence that my office number when I came here 20 years ago, and was located at the opposite end of the city at a different phone exchange, my number was 22-0777. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; During the preparation for this sermon, I studied many interpretations of the opening chapters of Bereshit, from the gleanings of Rabbi Plaut in his brilliant commentaries, to Rashi, the great biblical scholar whose commentaries of the Pentateuch has illuminated our understandings of Torah for 1000 years. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I was reading from a book of Rashi´s commentaries which deal solely with Bereshit. It is a humbling experience, my friends, to stand before you and speak of my interpretation of clearly the greatest book ever written, or given. Plaut refers to the Torah as the  Classic of the Classics . It is! It is more than a history. Whether or not you believe in Revelation. I can promise you that reading the commentaries will be a revelation to you. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But I have this obligation, because Pilar asked me to serve as lay leader tonight. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Remember that in the time of Oral Torah, the people thought of God as the highest expression of creation. The ancients spoke of God as if he were a man, because man was made in God´s image. Therefore God is perfection; the highest level man can attain. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Plaut refers to 3 basic ideas thought by biblical man which are implicit in Genesis. <OL> <LI>God - the creative force - purpose. To understand God means to understand one´s own potential. <LI>God - the lawgiver. God validates the principle of justice and righteousness which must govern the affairs of men. <LI>God - the Redeemer. God guarantees the ultimate goals of existence and enables man to find meaning of life. </OL> <P ALIGN=JUSTIFY>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Talmud speaks of man in terms of YETZER HA-TOV or YETZER HA-RA. HE IS GOOD or he is EVIL. We strive to be in God´s image, the highest level of GOOD; YETZER HA-TOV. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Genesis tells a story which reaches from the creation of the world to the death of Joseph in Egypt, a period of 1948 years. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When I realized this, it occurred to me that the modern history of Israel as a state in our time - began 1948 years after the death of another famous Jewish prophet, whose name also started with  J . <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I like to relate Genesis to my life and I ask you to do the same. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Every day is a new beginning. Feel motivated, try to be the best you can be! Try to live according to the covenant we made and have to this day. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Whatever your belief. Whether you take Torah literally, word for divine word, or whether you conceive of it as a history of man and his world, we can also think of Creation as a process: A work in progress, as it were. We are God´s partners in creating a world of true justice and mercy. We have been granted our day under the sun. Our being has meaning: a purpose. If God is perfect, then it follows that he conceived of a perfect world. Yet we live in an imperfect world. Tens of thousand of people die daily because we have corrupted the water; the water that was clean and unspoiled from the beginning. And the list of our failures goes on and on. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But tomorrow is a new day. It is the Sabbath. We think of the Sabbath as  the dream of perfection . But the dream can become a reality if we live every day as a new opportunity to fulfill ourselves in the image of God. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The creation of a perfect world was/is God´s business. The creation of a more perfect world, for God´s sake, is man´s unfinished business. <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <CENTER><IMG SRC="CORDON_CELESTE.bmp" border=0 width=480 height=12></CENTER> <H3> <A NAME="#FRIDAY NIGHT"> <A HREF="#Friday_Night"> ONE FRIDAY NIGHT </A></H3> <p><I>By Jason Marín </I> <P ALIGN=JUSTIFY>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; One Friday night, not too long ago, I stood proud and tall on the Bima with my grandfather to lead the Shabbat services. Although I had led services before, with my Hebrew class and Hilda, tonight was different. For me, it was a personal night in which I was able to express my Judaism in its purest form along side my grandfather, to whom I owe very much. The breakdown of the service was that I would lead the service and he would sing the songs. It all began at the beginning of the week, when on Monday he called me up and asked me to help him with the service. I was expecting to maybe read a passage or help with the Parshat or something of the sort. Come Wednesday night and he called me up and said that he wanted me to lead the service and type the parshat, and that he'll do the singing. Now came Friday night's service and it turned out that I was leading the service and reading the Parshat. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This is what it feels like to stand on the bima beside your grandfather in front of the Congregation and recite the age old blessings of Judaism. I thought about all the grandfathers and grandsons from the time of Abraham who must have repeated the same blessings and passed it on to their grandsons. I thought of the familiar memory that I had heard since birth, and I imagine these melodies reaching around the globe tying together all Jewish children to their tradition. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I know my grandfather's dream when he and a few other families worked so hard to start our congregation was to watch me become a Bar Mitzvah at Congregation B'nei Israel. It was probably beyond his wildest dream for me to become a Rabbi! But in the fashion of Elvis, after my performance I quickly scuttled off the stage before the stampeding feet could run me over. If you missed my performance, don't worry, we didn't quite have a full minyan, but I'm sure that my hundreds of ancestors were happy with my reading and my grandfathers singing. <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <CENTER><IMG SRC="CORDON_CELESTE.bmp" border=0 width=480 height=12></CENTER> <H3> <A NAME="#UNTIMELY DEATH"> <A HREF="#Untimely_Death"> AN UNTIMELY DEATH - AND A CURIOUS REACTION</A></H3> <P ALIGN=JUSTIFY>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Does it occur to you, as it does to me, that so many famous people turn out to be Jewish? It never fails to amaze me. There are some infamous people too, like Sam Berkowitz (Son of Sam) who was a serial killer. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Last week, we were all moved and shocked by the tragic death of Senator Paul Wellstone, his wife Sheila, his daughter, staff members and pilots, in a small plane accident he was campaigning in Minnesota. He was only 58, and seemed on his way to a third term of office in the mid-term elections in the United States. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He was the only senator in this year's election, to vote against a war with Iraq. Although he knew through polls, that most Minnesotans were in favor, and therefore he could lose the election as a result, he voted his conscience. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I had to admire his guts, his feistiness, his standing on liberal principles no matter what the politics. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I never knew, until his death, that he was Jewish, the son of Jewish Russian immigrants. Of course, there are huge political ramifications, as the countdown to the elections is only a few days away, and Mr. Wellstone's death may well determine who will control the powerful Senate of the United States, since Paul was a Democrat, and presently the Democrats have a majority of one. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But my interest here is not political. It is very personal. I never knew the man. But, I confirm, that when I heard of his Jewish roots, my believing of administration turned to pride. And my pride intensified. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There are too few of his ilk in this world. And - we have no Jews to lose. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Marvin Sossin <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; P.S. My observation on the significance of his death in the political making up of the U. S. Senate was not lost by the makers of the stock market. At precisely the time his death was announced, the NYSE soared 125 points within minutes. There are those that believe that this accident may be a prelude to a Republican victory, which supposedly would be good for business. <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <CENTER><IMG SRC="CORDON_CELESTE.bmp" border=0 width=480 height=12></CENTER> <H3> <A NAME="#CHANUKAH RECIPE"> <A HREF="#Chanukah_Recipe"> A CHANUKAH RECIPE </A></H3> <I>Taken from <U>Miracle Meal</U>, by Madeline Wikler and Judyth Groner</I> <H3><CENTER>CHUNKY APPLESAUCE</CENTER></H3> <P><IMG SRC="muneca.gif" WIDTH=139 HEIGHT=269 ALIGN=RIGHT HSPACE=15> <P><U>What you need</U>: <UL> <LI> 8 medium or 6 large apples <LI> ½ cup water <LI> dash of salt <LI> ½ cup sugar <LI> ½ tsp. Cinnamon (optional) </UL> <P><U>What you do</U>: <OL> <LI> Pare and core the apples. Put in a pot with water and salt. Cover and cook over medium heat until apples are soft (about 30 minutes). <LI> Add sugar and stir until sugar melts. Stir in cinnamon. <LI> Transfer to bowl. Applesauce may be served warm or cold. </OL> <P> Serves 6-8 <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <CENTER><IMG SRC="CORDON_CELESTE.bmp" border=0 width=480 height=12></CENTER> <H3> <A NAME="#JEWISH HUMOUR"> <A HREF="#Jewish_Humour"> JEWISH HUMOUR </A></H3> <I>Taken from <U>Jewish as a Second Language</U>, by Molly Katz</I> <P ALIGN=JUSTIFY>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Once, nobody married Jews except other Jews (and rich, neurotic non-Jews trying to torture their Patrician families after all other methods, such as working in a live-sex show, had failed). <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But there are many of you out there now, non-Jews swimming in the rubber cement of our mores, and you need help. There is much to learn about things you thought you already knew how to do, such as talk, think, eat, feel, and behave. Keeping a low profile, in the hope that your new lifestyle will evolve smoothly if you re observant and tactful, is about as effective as walking into a panther cage with a shoelace for a whip. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This book is your guide to the mysterious web of your new environment. Study it carefully, and the secrets of our language will unfold. <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <CENTER><H3><FONT COLOR=RED>CARING FOR YOUR NEW JEWISH BODY</FONT></H3></CENTER> <P ALIGN=JUSTIFY>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There s nothing we Jews relish more than medical problems - describing them, second-guessing doctors about them, imagining them, fearing them, having them. You will need to develop this cosumming interest yourself. You will also find that the ailments you do have will be different from those of your pre-Jewish years. Never again will you have a simple <I>cold</I>. It will be a <I>chest cold</I> or <I>head cold</I>. In a Jewish family, you can also have a cold in your <I>back</I> or <I>eye</I>. Don t question these conclusions. All Jews are born diagnosticians. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To prepare for your future colds, you ll have to learn some new behavior: <UL> <LI>When someone gets a cold, the whole family has to figure out where it came from. If you re fingered as the carrier because you sneezed once, you must accept the guilt. This is a very damning position for a Jewish person to be in. Don t be surprised to find yo